Arrecife Holidays: Beach, Castle and Lighthouses
Provincia de Las Palmas · Canary Islands · Spain · 61,351 residents · on the coast
Castillo de San José
Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo.jpg/500px-Playa_del_Reducto%2C_Arrecife_(3140621695).jpg)
Playa del Reducto
Faro Punta de la Lagarta
Lighthouse in Islote de Fermina, ArrecifeArrecife is a working coastal town of around 61,000 people on Lanzarote, sitting barely 20 metres above the Atlantic and only about 4 miles from the island's airport. That closeness is its first appeal for British travellers. Direct flights land a five-minute drive away, so you can be on the seafront at Playa del Reducto while others are still queuing for car hire. Within a mile or so of the centre you will find Castillo de San José, the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo and two lighthouses, Faro Punta de la Lagarta and the light on Islote de Fermina. The weather plays its part too, with daytime highs between 20°C and 27°C through the year and very little rain.
Why go
- Lanzarote airport has direct UK flights and is roughly a five-minute drive from town.
- Castillo de San José and the contemporary art museum sit about a mile from the centre.
- Daytime highs stay between 20°C and 27°C all year, with July almost entirely dry.
Top sights in Arrecife
Castle, Art and a Town Beach
The best-known sight is Castillo de San José, a museum and listed cultural property about a mile from the centre. At the same distance is the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo, Lanzarote's international museum of contemporary art, which makes the two an easy pairing for a morning.
For the sea, Playa del Reducto is the town beach, around three-quarters of a mile out, and a good choice for families. Nearby stands Faro Punta de la Lagarta, a lighthouse at a similar distance, while a second light rises on the islet of Islote de Fermina, little more than half a mile away. Both suit a quiet stroll as the evening cools.
Tours and tickets for Arrecife and the rest of Lanzarote can be booked directly on this page, where you will see the current options laid out as booking cards.
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Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo
1 mile from the centre · Photo
art museum in Arrecife, Lanzarote
- 3beach
- 4lighthouse
Faro Punta de la Lagarta
1 mile from the centre · Photo
lighthouse, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Island
- 5lighthouse
Lighthouse in Islote de Fermina, Arrecife
1 mile from the centre · Photo
lighthouse, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Island
Tours & tickets in Arrecife
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Arrecife can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Arrecife
Choosing Your Base in Arrecife
Arrecife is a real town rather than a purpose-built resort, so staying here means everyday island life around you. Bases near Playa del Reducto and the lighthouses put you by the water, while the area towards Castillo de San José and the art museum keeps culture within walking distance.
If you would rather have a resort feel, Costa Teguise lies about 4 miles away and Puerto del Carmen around 7.5 miles. The page shows live hotel prices for Arrecife so you can compare locations and dates at a glance.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Arrecife and the villages around it is a hire car from Lanzarote (ACE), about 5 min away.
Best time to visit Arrecife
When to Visit Arrecife
- 21°CJan2 mm
- 20°CFeb15 mm
- 22°CMar9 mm
- 24°CApr3 mm
- 23°CMay11 mm
- 25°CJun5 mm
- 26°CJul1 mm
- 27°CAug2 mm
- 26°CSept3 mm
- 26°COct11 mm
- 24°CNov8 mm
- 21°CDec9 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Conditions are most pleasant from March right through to December. Even the coolest months stay mild, with February peaking around 20°C and January around 21°C, though overnight lows drop to 15°C or 16°C.
August is the warmest month, with highs near 27°C and nights around 21°C, and July, September and October are close behind at 26°C. July is the driest, with almost no rain at all. The wettest spell is February, with about 15mm over five rainy days, and March also sees around five damp days, though totals stay low. Sea temperature figures are not available for Arrecife.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°C | 16°C | 2 mm | 10 h |
| Feb | 20°C | 15°C | 15 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 22°C | 16°C | 9 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 24°C | 17°C | 3 mm | 12 h |
| May | 23°C | 18°C | 11 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 19°C | 5 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 26°C | 20°C | 1 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 27°C | 21°C | 2 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 26°C | 20°C | 3 mm | 12 h |
| Oct | 26°C | 20°C | 11 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 24°C | 19°C | 8 mm | 10 h |
| Dec | 21°C | 17°C | 9 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and Getting There
Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is the obvious gateway, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies only about 4 miles from Arrecife, roughly a five-minute drive, so transfers are about as short as they come.
Arrecife also has its own ferry port, under a mile from town, with sailings to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria and to Corralejo on Fuerteventura via Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca, about 19 miles away at the island's southern tip, runs a 30-minute crossing to Corralejo. Driving from the UK is not a practical option for an island holiday, so flying is the sensible choice.
By air
- Lanzarote (ACE)4 miles, about 5 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Arrecife (1 mile), Playa Blanca (19 miles), Corralejo (25 miles).
Arrecife is good for
Around Arrecife
Easy Day Trips Around Lanzarote
Distances on Lanzarote are short. Costa Teguise is about 4 miles up the coast, while San Bartolomé is around 5 miles inland and Nazaret and Tías are each about 5.5 miles away. Teguise sits roughly 7 miles from town and Puerto del Carmen, the largest of the nearby resorts, around 7.5 miles.
Further along, the small villages of Guatiza, about 9 miles away, and Mala, around 10.5 miles, offer a quieter contrast to town. With the ferry port on your doorstep, a hop to Fuerteventura via Playa Blanca and Corralejo is also within reach.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
With around 61,000 residents, Arrecife keeps going all year rather than shutting down out of season, which suits winter sun seekers as much as summer visitors.
The airport's five-minute drive makes short breaks and late flights realistic, and you lose very little of your holiday to transfers. Pack a light layer even in high summer, as evenings can dip to around 15°C or 16°C between December and March.
Questions people ask
How far is Arrecife from Lanzarote airport?
Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is about 4 miles from Arrecife, roughly a five-minute drive. It is a large airport with direct flights from the United Kingdom, so the transfer is one of the shortest you will find for a Canary Islands holiday.
Does Arrecife have a beach?
Yes. Playa del Reducto is the town beach, around three-quarters of a mile from the centre and popular with families. For more resort-style beaches, Costa Teguise is about 4 miles away and Puerto del Carmen roughly 7.5 miles.
What is the weather like in Arrecife in winter?
Winter is mild. January highs reach about 21°C and February about 20°C, with lows of 15°C to 16°C. February is the wettest month, though only around 15mm falls over five days, while January sees just one rainy day on average.
When is the hottest time to visit Arrecife?
August is the warmest month, with highs around 27°C and nights near 21°C. July, September and October are close behind at about 26°C, and July is the driest month, with virtually no rain recorded.
Can I take a ferry from Arrecife to Fuerteventura?
Yes. The ferry port in Arrecife, under a mile from town, has routes to Corralejo on Fuerteventura via Playa Blanca, as well as to Las Palmas. From Playa Blanca, about 19 miles away, the crossing to Corralejo takes around 30 minutes.